So the big AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are hogging all the worlds DRAM capacity, leaving consumers to pay through the nose for the scraps left over for PCs, laptops, and gaming handhelds. The market has already reacted to this, because after the Apple MacBook Neo, the new Dell XPS 13 now only comes with 8GB RAM, while Acer has even hinted at laptops with only 4GB RAM.
Intel's Answer to the DRAM Shortage
Intel spoke to Tom's Hardware about the DRAM crisis. According to this, Wildcat Lake in the lower price segment and Raptor Lake in the mid to higher price segment would currently be the answer to the crisis, because while Wildcat Lake is often offered with 8GB RAM in a single-channel configuration, while Raptor Lake still supports DDR4, both in desktop and laptops. The older RAM standard is currently somewhat cheaper, as a kit with 2 x 16GB DDR4 RAM sticks currently costs $199, while DDR5 costs $449.
Raptor Lake Is Here to Stay
Intel says Raptor Lake is far from being phased out and they plan to keep offering processors which support older RAM standards for as long as that makes sense. Intel is also collaborating with more RAM suppliers, including from China and Indonesia, to approve as many products as possible and offer customers a wider selection of potentially cheaper memory.
Future Price Hikes Likely
With these steps Intel can at best dampen the price increases, but if the DRAM crisis continues at least until 2028 as expected, further price increases are unlikely to be avoidable. Intel, via Tom's Hardware
Source: www.tomshardware.com